To the editor:

Why is there sharp division over opening schools this fall? Is it the teachers’ unions, the media and government using fear-mongering tactics to maintain control? This is a scary virus. But we must use science and logic to guide us, not fear. There is no such thing as a risk-free environment. We must be sensible and minimize risks, but what I find maddening is the argument that we “can’t” open schools “until it is safe.” We’re face-to-face with the ugly truth. There is no such thing as 100 percent safe, there wasn’t before coronavirus. We know the risk of keeping schools closed: a huge loss to our kids in terms of their education and their social/emotional health. We must be sensible and minimize risks

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidance “strongly advocates” that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school with children middle school and under not wearing a masks. Kids spread the virus to others less frequently than their adult counterparts. One death of a child is one too many, but children ages 5-17 have so far accounted for fewer than 0.1 percent of U.S. deaths from COVID-19 and 4.3 percent of known cases, but only 26 children under 14 years in U.S. have died of COVID-19

We’re faced with a challenging situation and, if we set too many different goals, then we’re likely to hit none of them. Schools have to lead the way in reopening society. The risk of opening schools is minimal, the importance profound.

Lou Walker

Cape Coral